Brian on Reading, recruitment, and a long-term project

15 November 2016

Technical Director on aspects of his job…

Our Technical Director Brian Tevreden is fast approaching a full year with the Royals – so we caught up with him about all things Reading!

In the first of these features, he tells us about his route to Reading via a playing career that took him across the continent, the process behind bringing in new players, and a long-term project at the club.

Later in the week the focus will switch to Brian’s job and his colleagues, bringing in Jaap Stam from Ajax, and our ambitions. You can watch the feature interview in full right now via the video above!

Brian on… his route to Reading
I started at a local club, near where I was born in Amsterdam. I went to several academies and went on to play professional football at a lot of clubs. The last club I was at was in Greece, then I came back to Holland and stopped. I was realistic; I couldn’t play at the top level any more. So I did a course, and started to build a new career at coaching. I started with the Dutch FA, before going back to Ajax as a youth coach, and then I came here to Reading last December.

I came in as Head of International Football, and after two months the opportunity came when Nick Hammond left to go to West Brom. The board asked me if I wanted to do the job, and I said yes. I went straight in – and I’ve been learning every minute about the job. It is a hard job and a big challenge, but I’m settled in.

Brian on… recruitment
We have a football committee – the gaffer, the assistant manager, me, my assistant Tao, Nigel Howe, and now the Academy Manager Lee Herron as well. We have a good Academy and if we bring a player in, he has to be better than what we have. He can’t block the pathway of an Academy player which is why Lee is included as well. There is a whole process, and if we want a player, it is my job to approach the club and then the negotiations will start.

You need to prepare for the next window and you need to watch a lot of players who you want to bring in. We would like to bring in a new striker, so I am very busy at the moment with the recruitment team. The gaffer is looking, everybody is looking – it is very busy at the moment to prepare ourselves for the next window.

Brian on… our long-term project
A couple of months ago when I came in, one of the journalists asked me a question about finances. I said ‘I’m not worried’ – Reading have a very good Academy with good people and good players. I don’t believe that money guarantees you success – you have to be creative. Jaap is creative as well.

It is a long-term project. Sometimes you will have failures, but you will learn. Until now our plan is working – it is still early in the season, but we want to build a foundation.

I want to have hungry young players that give value to the club. Other clubs have bigger budgets than we have, but that doesn’t mean we have to sell every player. You need to have hungry players.